Until next time..................

Today, the pageant world mourns .......... I never had the opportunity to be one of Wayne's Angels but  I have several pageant friends who had the opportunity to do so.  From all accounts, he was a wonderful man with a HUGE heart!   The Miss Maryland America & Miss Howard County organizations & family, Danley family and tons of friends need our prayers and support during this time!

Rest in peace Wayne Danley........your passing leaves a void!

Get to Know.......... Mrs. Pennsylvania United States

If it's one thing I love about writing this blog, it's the opportunity to connect with and get to know queens and princesses from around the country!   This week's get to know feature is the beautiful Mary Brennan, Mrs. Pennsylvania United States 2013. 

The West Newton native, was crowned at the state pageant on April 7 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Moon, Pennsylvania.  She and her husband Jay have four children, ages 9, 8, 5 & 1. (I can't even imagine!!!)  Second time was a charm as she first competed for the Mrs. PA title more than a decade ago!!!

She's such a wonderful person and after reading more about her, I am sure you'll agree.

Q) What has been the most exciting thing that you've done as Mrs. Pennsylvania so far?

"The most exciting thing this far would have to be the incredible people I have met. So many different, interesting, and inspiring people from so many different walks of life." 

  

Q) If you could accomplish one thing during your reign, what would it be and why?

"If I could accomplish one thing during my reign it would have to be bringing awareness to inequality in education & drug awareness.  These are two extremely important issues that I don't believe get the attention they should!"

Q) What is typical day like in the life of Mrs. Pennsylvania?

"A typical day in my life:

  - Get up early with baby Benjamin and the girls:). 

- Trying to keep a clean house while juggling playing with my 4 babies, answering phone calls and emails, lunch, outing with children (zoo, pool, museum) 

- Dinner

- Gym 

- The occasional event or appearance

- Answer emails

- Finally bed:)"

 

 

Q) Is there an organization that you would like to work with (that you haven't already)?  Why?

"I would really like to work with the batch foundation. It supports equality in education and giving children opportunity! Charlie batch and his wife take such a hands on role with children of their organization."

 

Q) What are you most looking forward to at the Mrs. United States pageant?  Have you had a chance to connect with any of the other women yet?

"I am most looking forward to meeting the other state representatives!  I have gotten to Facebook with a large number of them. They seem like an incredible, inspirational group!!"

Q) What was the best piece of advice that your husband gave you before competing for your state title?

"The only person you need to compete with is yourself!"

Q) Tell us about you and your husband's first date!

"Our first date was to PNC Park for the MLB homerun derby." 

Speed round: Favorites - 

•  Color - green
•  Food - crab cakes
•  Dessert - tiramisu
•  Wedding Memory - Wedding memory dancing with my family 
•  Celebrity - Jennifer Aniston 
• Thing to do with your children - cuddle while reading together
•  Item you MUST take to Mrs. United States - camera
•  Season - summer
•  Clothing item or accessory you can't live without - flip flops and favorite jeans:)

Free for all Friday!!!!!

It's my blog and I'll do what I wanna.......... (okay, this is just a nice way of saying I couldn't come up with a snazzy title for today's blog).  In any event, this blog is dedicated to ALL things pageantry, not just report and recapping pageant winners.  So today is a little free for all - a hodge podge of pageant thoughts if you will.

So first up - I received an note from a mom in the Mid West asking for advice on her 14 year-old outgoing daughter, who wants to enter pageants - she has a strong personality, but doesn't have a performing arts "talent".  I figured, since she was kind enough to ask my opinion, I should be as thorough as possible.  I am sure there are others who probably have the same question, so I will share some of the contents of my response here.....hopefully, it's helpful to you or someone you know!  Keep in mind, this is just my semi-PROFESSIONAL/UNBIASED opinion and not an endorsement of ANY pageant.

For your daughter 14 year old, I would start with your state's High School America pageant.  It's less structured than National American Miss (N.A.M.).  They don't have a non-compete clause nor will you need a local title to compete in the state system. There is no swimsuit or talent competition. The national competition is in Orlando, Florida.   Also, if she is interested in doing community service, you could try the Miss Teen International pageant. This system is heavily based in having a platform that you promote throughout the year.  It's pretty intense, having a significant interview portion. The other categories are fun fashion, evening gown and fitness. 

Other pageants you could try are International Junior Miss or National American Miss.  It looks like NAM, in which your younger daughter could also participate, will be having competitions in your state in August.  Like I mentioned earlier, I would first take her to see one in person to get a feel for the atmosphere.

I am not sure what other systems have state competitions in your area, but doing a Google search is a good place to start.  Sites like this are useful.  Just to give you an idea of beginning expenses and preparation - you'll need to invest in a quality formal gown, perhaps fun fashion (which could range), and interview suit or dress, a few good pair of shoes, great hair maintenance and overall age-appropriate glam.  Don't worry about having the best of anything. I tell my clients all the time, judges aren't looking for the best - everyone is going to look great.  We are looking for who we can mark OFF.  It gives us less to judge and a smaller pool to pick winners from.  With that said, cut, proper fit, good coloring and age appropriateness are more important that what anything cost or from where you brought it.

 She seemed pleased with these little tidbits, and I think I got her pointed in the right direction....perhaps she will follow up with me with GREAT NEWS in the coming months!!

In other news, did ANYONE see how fabulous Jennifer Lopez looked as she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!  Talk about orientation/prelim viewing or contestant dinner GLAM!!! 

Finally!   Good luck to all the 2013 Miss Maryland America contestants who will have their finals tomorrow night to decide who will go to Atlantic City.  Unashamedly, I have a favorite (who's already won a prelim competition) but....you know my theory - it can go anyway with the judges. So ladies of the Mu and Delta groups, I hope you brought it this week!  I know I will be eagerly waiting to learn who will represent the Free State in September.

2013 Miss Maryland America Contestants

Have a PEARLFECT weekend dear friends!!!!!

Pageant Mom Recap----------------- Miss USA 2013

One of the things I LOVE is guest bloggers!!!  I REALLY love it, when it's from a mom, one of my favorite pageant moms!   Jennifer Horvath is the quintessential pageant mom.

Her daughter, Kailee, has competed in pageants for years!!  When I first met Kailee, she was the sweetest, happy, little, blond preteen I'd ever met!

Now, she's just as sweet, happy and blond - but not so little!  She's a 5'10" dancing force to be reckoned with - I suggest the ladies in Virginia's MAOT look out (but then again, I am biased)!  She's held the titles of National American Miss Virginia Junior Preteen 2009, Miss Preteen Virginia International 2010, International Junior Miss Preteen Virginia 2011, Miss Preteen Winter Snow Queen 2011 and National American Miss Virginia Preteen 2012

So when it comes to "watching", Jennifer knows EXACTLY what she's talking about.  Have fun reading her recap of Miss USA 2013!  I did!!

Watching the 2013 Miss USA pageant in a room full of seasoned pageant friends is sort of like watching the Superbowl with ex-football players.   While our food and drink choices were more in line with a trendy cocktail party than the traditional beer and wings, the rest of the night was just as rowdie as any major televised sporting event. We had score sheets, we knew our stats and had experts from every pageant system imaginable - and we had our hometown favorites.  

   

The evening was kicked off by each contestant modeling an outfit of their choice, rather than a procession with each contestant in  a costume representing their state.  While I can see the merits of trying to steer clear of the stereotypes that are often conveyed with the state costumes, this year's opening number felt awkward, rather than fashion forward.  It did however give the viewers a first look at each contestant's style,  ability to walk, and capture our attention. Fifteen women would advance to the swimsuit round where they danced on stage while being serenaded by the Jonas Brothers.  We thought that was just wrong and waited for a wardrobe malfunction that thankfully never happened.  I am sorry, but no matter how fit you are, dancing in a bikini and heels is just asking too much.  And these girls are fit, some more so than others.  This viewer was not a fan of the string bikini that was chosen, nor the use of the sarong.  Give me a well fitting competition suit on a contestant any day, they do so much more for the body!  At this point Miss Utah was announced as Miss Photogenic and the competition was narrowed further to a Top 10 for evening gown - my personal favorite.  

Giuliana Rancic told the viewers it's not about the design or the price tag, rather how the contestant presents herself.  I couldn't agree more. I have always said you can put an expensive gown on a so-so contestant and it won't help, but you can put an outstanding contestant in any gown and she can make it work.  The gowns this year were above average with Miss Alabama's black mermaid gown paired with emerald earrings being my personal favorite and Miss North Carolina's white gown that had a skirt over a bodysuit being my least favorite.  I also have to say I was not a fan of the nude platform pump many of the contestants chose to wear under the gown.  Looking at the stats I did notice that none of the girls in the Top 10 were over 5' 8" and I suppose this shoe choice was to give the appearance of a longer leg.  Our big surprise this year was the ability to Tweet a contestant in to the final round.  We were shown a screen with  #TheNextMissUSA  hashtag followed by a two letter abbreviation for each state to Tweet during the evening gown competition.  Great marketing tool, but next time an advance warning so more viewers can sign up for Twitter might be nice.  Anyhow this lead to a Top 6 where five of the contestants were chosen by the judges and one more was chosen via the most Tweets. 

During the final look we were finally at the "getting to know you" phase of the night where we get to hear how well the contestants communicate.  The first round was just chit chat about things from their bio, it did not get interesting until the dreaded "on stage question".  Much has been said already about Miss Utah's blunder, and in my opinion she had the pageant in the bag up until this point.  Unfortunately, she made the mistake of speaking before gathering her thoughts. Pageant girls are often criticized as being airheads and I can tell you this is far from the truth.  Most pageant girls are bright, intelligent women, but you put anyone on the spot, on national television and ask them to answer a loaded question the result is not going to be pretty.  There were no powder puff questions about  "world peace", they were all well thought out questions, relevant to current events.  In the end Miss Alabama and Miss Connecticut stood out and Miss Connecticut was crowned.  If you had asked me earlier in the evening if I thought either would have made it that far and my answer would have been no.  But then several of us at the party  remembered the "Kyle Haggerty Rule" - if there is a contestant who is not a front runner who continually makes the cut, that contestant is winning over the judges and will win.  So, while Miss Connecticut was never my first choice to win, she did win over the judges.

All in all, it was a fun night.  Spending time with pageant friends, arguing the merits of gowns, hair and all the other pageant stuff was truly the epitome of a great evening.  It was our Superbowl - only the uniforms were cuter, the bodies more buff and instead of a football and yardage - everyone was vying for a sparkly, new crown.

Thanks again Jennifer!!!  I can't wait to read your next review! Feel free to e-mail her, by clicking on her name!

Congratulations........ Miss USA 2013

Congratulations to Erin Brady of Connecticut, the new Miss USA 2013!!!!

Tonight was a wonderful contest and she should be very excited to follow Olivia & Nana!  Off to Russia you go.  This is the first year that a Miss USA from Connecticut has been crowned!

Congratulations to the other top 5 ladies:

Miss Utah - Marissa Powell (3rd runner up)

Miss Alabama - Mary Margaret McCord (1st RU)

Miss Illinois - Stacie Juris (2nd runner up)

Miss South Carolina - Megan Picnkney (5th runner-up)

People's Choice - Top Finalist, Miss Texas - Ali Nugent (4th runner up)

I must admit that I was a little saddened that Miss Maryland, Kasey Staniszewski, didn't make it past top 15!

I mean, hello, she is a former Miss Teen Maryland USA 2009 (3rd runner).

And the Tony goes too......classic elegance!!!

I am just tickled PINK that Ms. Tyson won the Tony for her performance in Broadway's "A Trip to Bountiful"!!!  She truly is the epitome of grace and class!

I love to look at red carpet photos after awards shows to see what looks stick out and could make an appearance at late summer and fall pageants.  With Mrs. United States, Galaxy International Pageants, Collegiate America, Mrs. America, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, International Junior Miss, National American Miss states and Teen/Miss/Mrs. International pageants ALL happening between now and September - people are LOOKING for inspiration!

Well, here you go!

Laura Osnes

Keala Settle

 Judith Light

 Krysta Rodriguez

Anna Kendrick

 Sigourney Weaver

 Angela Bassett

 Condola Rashad

Audra McDonald  & Bernadette Peters

 

Laura Benanti

What do you think?  I love the classic lines and cuts of most of the gowns.  The Tony's crowd tends to be a little more subdued and conservative. Which works well for me, I tend to lean more to the traditional/conservative side in gowns. These looks would definitely be a win for late summer, early fall pageants.  If you're going for classic beauty which can enhance the silhouette.....look no further!

The Lady O influence.....

With all the interest {still} surrounding the First Lady's "interaction" with a protestor at an appearance earlier this week, I figured I'd post my interpretations of Mrs. Obama's style if she were to compete in a Mrs. pageant!   Here goes...........let me know what you think?

Mrs. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, Mrs. Nation (for the time being anyway).  :-)  There is a WONDERFUL fashion blog that highlights Mrs. Obama - these photos are from that site.

Interview attire

Arrival or Contestant Dinner

Fitness Wear

Fun Fashion

Formal Wear

Departure with Husband

I LOVE this woman's style!  She'd do just fine in the pageant world! 

From the Cowboy State......

A big congratulations to Atana Velasquez, the new Mrs. Wyoming America 2013!!!

The stunning beauty was crowned at the Central High Performing Arts Center in Cheyenne on Saturday, June 2 in front of friends and family, including her husband of seven years, Nathaniel.  Entering the pageant representing Douglass, she also won the Best in Evening Gown and Most Photogenic awards. Now she moves on to compete in the Mrs. America pageant this August in Tucson, Arizona.

Other finalists and award winners were: Mrs. Laramie - 1st RU and Best in Swimsuit award winner, Best in Interview award winner and Mrs. Congeniality winner;  Mrs Gillette - 2nd RU and also Director's Choice award winner and Mrs. Casper - Marriage Longevity Award who has been married for 20 years.

Also on hand to congratulate and celebrate with the newest member of Wyoming's royalty were her predecessors and Mrs. Wyoming sisters:

From left to right - Amy Moon(2007), Lauren Deluca(2010), MRS. WYOMING 2013, Heather Clemens(2012), Sheree Lynch(2002) Joanna {Hamilton} Dobos (2009) and LaKell Archer(2011).

Photo Credit: Jeff Johnson Portraits

Congratulations Atana and welcome to the Mrs. America family!!!!  For more information on the Mrs. Wyoming America pageant visit http://www.mrswyomingamerica.com/index.html.

** Photos courtesy of Mrs. Wyoming America pageant

Muy Linda !!!!!

Congratulations to Miss República Dominicana Global 2013 Marilyn Batista, and Miss T.E.E.N. República Dominicana 2013 Ana Matias, on winning their titles Saturday, May 25, 2013.

Newly crowned winners of the Miss República Dominicana Global and Miss T.E.E.N. República Dominicana 2013 and outgoing Republica Dominicana Global Queen. (Courtesy of www.tumedio.net)

 

 

Miss República Dominicana Global 2013 and Miss T.E.E.N. República Dominicana 2013 with event producers.

The winners will represent the Dominican Republic at the Miss Global International Pageant, which will be held in Nigeria, Africa and the Miss T.E.E.N. Pageant 2013  in Houston, Texas.

To learn more about both pageant systems, visit their websites!!

Miss Global International - http://missglobalinternational.com/html/

Miss T.E.E.N.  - http://www.teenwc.com/